Improvement in fruit-baskets



LUCis WHEELER: BEECHEE, CE wEsrvILLE, CONNECTICUT.

' IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Batent No. 200,786, dated February 26, 1878; application filed January 1'7, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. W. BEECHER, of Westville, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Baskets, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descripion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. This invention consists, mainly, first, in the combination, with the main side pieces of a square berry-basket, of certain auxiliary corner-pieces; second, in the combination, with the main pieces of the basket, formed of thin material, of certain auxiliary pieces formed of thick material, the construction being such that thin and cheap material is principally employed to inclose the basket-space, and the heavier material, in less quantity, principally to furnish the requisite strength.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a sectional elevation of the main parts A A of the basket in their proper relative positions; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the basket complete, and Fig. 4a plan view of the same. u

To enable others skilled in the'art to make and use my improved fruit-basket, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

A A represent the main parts of the basket, consisting simply of two wide strips of veneer, properly scored and bent, which are crossed at right angles, as shown.

In the ordinary square basket thus constructed, these strips are wide enough to meet at the corners and form a right angle. VIn my improved basket, however, these strips, it will be observed, are made narrower, for the purpose of leaving an intermediate space at each corner, about an inch in width, between the adjacent edges, as shown.

B B represent auxiliary corner-pieces, consisting of narrow strips of veneer, properly scored and bent, which are crossed at ri ht angles, and applied to the main pieces in such manner as to till the corner spaces, as shown.

Tacks or other suitable means are employed to fasten the bottom pieces strongly together.

C represents an inner hoop, and D an outer hoop, by means of which and proper fastenings the ends of the side and corner pieces are properly secured in place.

By means of the construction described, it will be observed that a basket is obtained which is square in its general outline, and yet is Without an acute angle at its corners.

The main pieces A are preferably made of thin, cheap material, and the auxiliary cornerpieces B of heavier material, the former serving principally to inclose the basket-space, and the latter principally to furnish the requisite strength to resist vertical strain.

Some of the advantages of the described construction are as follows: By means of the square outline the baskets are adapted to be packed, when filled with fruit, with great economy of space. By means of the rounded corners, the acute angle incidental to the ordinary square basket is dispensed with, and hence the entire basket-space may be properly lilled with fruit when the basket is lirst packed, so that no opportunity will be afforded for settlement into unlled corners by the jar of transportation. By means of the rounded corners, also, proper spaces are left between the baskets for ventilation when the same are packed in the crate. By means of the auxiliary corner-pieces additional spaces for ventilation, also, are formed in each individual basket. By means of the rounded corners, also, the securing-hoops are applied without danger of breaking them at the angles, as often occurs in the ordinary square basket. By means of this special construction, also, the appearance of the basket, and also the fruit which it contains, is much improved. In short, this new basket combines in itself the advantages of both the square and the round basket.

By the use of two different thicknesses or qualities of material for the main and auxiliary parts, the requisite strength is obtained, with an important saving in the cost of the material. If desired, instead of forming the thin portion of the basket of two Wide strips, as described, a proper number of narrow strips may be employed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The basket described, having the main side .pieces A A placed at rightangles to each other, 'with an intermediate space between their bottom portions at each corner, and the auxiliary corner-pieces D, adapted to fill the intermediate space, the construction being such 3. The described basket, consisting of the main -p'ieces A, of thin material, and auxiliary corner-pieces, of heavier material, and securing-hoops C D, combined and arranged as and for the purpose described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th dayof January, 1878.

L. W. BEECHER.

Witnesses:

H. A. BARNES, J. F. BENTON. 

